On March 28, Myanmar experienced a magnitude-7.7 earthquake, resulting in at least 2,700 fatalities. The quake is classified as a supershear event, characterized by an exceptionally rapid ground rupture that can cause amplified destruction. The Sagaing fault, which runs through Myanmar, may have ruptured over 400 kilometers. Damage is widespread across Myanmar and nearby Thailand, with ongoing civil conflict hindering rescue operations. The reduced capacity for earthquake monitoring in Myanmar, due to internal unrest and fewer seismometers, complicates the situation further, impacting response efforts.
"This kind of rupture is the earthquake equivalent of a supersonic jet," wrote Frederik Tilmann, emphasizing the destructive capability of supershear earthquakes.
"In supershear earthquakes, the ground rupture travels faster than the seismic waves it produces, leading to greater damage at greater distances than expected."
"Damage is widespread across Myanmar and, to a lesser extent, in neighboring Thailand, with search-and-rescue efforts impeded by ongoing civil conflict."
"The geological fault that broke during the quake— the Sagaing fault— might have ruptured over 400 kilometres or more, amplifying the destruction."
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